1
as in sequence
a series of things linked together
the chain of events that led the American colonies to seek independence from Great Britain
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
2
as in obstacle
something that makes movement or progress difficult
this community will grow and prosper only after it has thrown off the chains of ignorance and prejudice
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in bracelet
something that physically prevents free movement
chains on the prisoner's ankles
Synonyms & Similar Words
1
as in to bind
to confine or restrain with or as if with chains
chaining up the dog in the backyard
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to connect
to put or bring together so as to form a new and longer whole
the prosecutor meticulously and brilliantly chained all the evidence together in his closing argument
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of chain
Alexander Onukwue, semafor.com, 24 Apr. 2026
The Walmart stores stock frontlist bestsellers (and anticipated bestsellers) exclusively, but the chain bookstores also prioritize frontlist titles, and due to their size and market penetration, orders from just a few retailers can make or break a publisher’s advance sales.
—Encyclopedia Britannica, 24 Apr. 2026
Beatrice Nolan, Fortune, 10 Apr. 2026
Across the street, cars are parked bumper-to-bumper, and a sleek bicycle is chained to the streetlamp on the sidewalk in front of the red brick townhouse that’s been there since 1902.
—Literary Hub, 10 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for chain
Noun
In countries like Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger, the push to develop local mineral value chains has taken the tone of negotiating higher equity stakes in mining projects for the government, accompanied by threats of seizures and hostile takeovers.
—Alexander Onukwue, semafor.com, 24 Apr. 2026
The Walmart stores stock frontlist bestsellers (and anticipated bestsellers) exclusively, but the chain bookstores also prioritize frontlist titles, and due to their size and market penetration, orders from just a few retailers can make or break a publisher’s advance sales.
—Encyclopedia Britannica, 24 Apr. 2026
Verb
Tasks that once required advanced expertise—like scanning code for vulnerabilities or running attacks that require chaining multiple exploits together—are increasingly being automated or semiautomated by AI systems.
—Beatrice Nolan, Fortune, 10 Apr. 2026
Across the street, cars are parked bumper-to-bumper, and a sleek bicycle is chained to the streetlamp on the sidewalk in front of the red brick townhouse that’s been there since 1902.
—Literary Hub, 10 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for chain
Recent Examples of Synonyms for chain
Noun
-
By the final showdown, the production has made use of every bit of stage space, with sensational flying sequences (choreographed by Lauren Yalango-Grant and Christopher Cree Grant) that allow the vampires to float, hover, and—in one especially intense moment—dive from that bridge.—
Emily Nussbaum,
New Yorker,
30 Apr. 2026
-
In the 1990s, Venter and a team at the National Institutes of Health developed expressed sequence tags, which allowed for the rapid discovery of new genes.—
Francie Ebert,
NBC news,
30 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
The system continuously maps nearby activity, such as detecting pedestrians, vehicles, and unexpected obstacles.—
Bojan Stojkovski,
Interesting Engineering,
25 Apr. 2026
-
And that really is a huge obstacle for the Chinese now.—
Jamie Lincoln Kitman,
Rolling Stone,
24 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Right beside them, the Chicago Botanic Garden, a partner with the Obama Foundation on the center’s Eleanor Roosevelt Fruit and Vegetable Garden, hosted a bracelet-making station for kids and provided 300 seedlings for the Earth Day event.—
Eva Remijan-Toba,
Chicago Tribune,
25 Apr. 2026
-
Only 66 pieces were produced over three years (22 pieces per year from 2022 to 2024), with an original retail price of $340,000 on a strap (like Jordan’s) or $385,000 on a bracelet.—
Rachel Cormack,
Robb Report,
25 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
British monarchs are constitutionally bound to remain above politics, able only to represent the UK rather than speak for its government.—
Issy Ronald,
CNN Money,
28 Apr. 2026
-
Even if the rule is finalized, the EPA would still have to take more steps before Americans see binding legal changes.—
Justin Zorn,
STAT,
28 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
In a different draft class, the Browns would likely be connected to a first-round passer.—
Zac Jackson,
New York Times,
25 Apr. 2026
-
Alex Bregman delivered his biggest hit in a Cubs uniform, connecting on a game-tying solo home run off Blake Treinen in the eighth.—
Meghan Montemurro,
Chicago Tribune,
25 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
The victim managed to walk off the train and out of the station, sources said.—
Kerry Burke,
New York Daily News,
28 Apr. 2026
-
Few journeys bring you as close to this breathtaking landscape as the Rocky Mountaineer, a train that threads through canyons, forests, and mountain passes.—
Taryn White,
Travel + Leisure,
27 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
The biggest hurdles have been the logistics of assembling the designs in conjunction with partners WhiteWater West, which helped design Royal Caribbean’s water park as well.—
Richard Tribou,
The Orlando Sentinel,
25 Apr. 2026
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But for now, many families still face legal hurdles even in places where polyamory is becoming widely accepted.—
Sonja Sharp,
Los Angeles Times,
25 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Bregman wasn’t fazed by it, slugging a game-tying home run in the eighth inning Friday for his first marquee moment in a Cubs uniform.—
Meghan Montemurro,
Chicago Tribune,
26 Apr. 2026
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Up next The Hawks head to Madison Square Garden on Tuesday for Game 5 with the series tied 2-2.—
Lauren Williams,
AJC.com,
26 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Chain.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/chain. Accessed 1 May. 2026.
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